Article of jewelry

ABSTRACT

An article of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a single framed compartment or a plurality of framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or some similar medium with indicia thereon. Each framed compartment is formed of a rear plate for protecting the back of the photograph and four sidewalls integrally formed therewith. Openings are formed in two of the opposing sidewalls to receive a thin resilient cord or the like employed to connect the framed compartments in a series or a single framed compartment to various other objects. A separate opening is formed within the rear plate to receive an implement to facilitate the removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided to keep the series of framed compartment equally separated from the next and ensure the bracelet&#39;s overall flexibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of jewelryand, more particularly to an improved bracelet or other article ofjewelry for displaying and interchanging individual or a series ofphotographs.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Articles of jewelry for displaying photographs or some other kindof object bearing indicia for wearing on a person's wrist or elsewhereon the body are well known in the prior art.

[0005] Included among these prior art references are the articles ofjewelry shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,319,201 granted Oct. 21, 1919 toBoldizsar; U.S. Pat. No. 2,145,071 granted Jan. 24, 1939 to Cave; andU.S. Pat. No. 5,081,852 granted Jan. 21, 1992 to Cox.

[0006] Cox discloses a bracelet with a rigid band containing individualcompartments with removable windows for displaying photographs.

[0007] Boldizsar discloses an item of jewelry that includes linkedcompartments for receiving photographs or the like, and a rear plateformed with an upwardly extending bezel to secure the photograph. Acover is employed as a frame and requires more than a simplemanipulation to remove.

[0008] Cave discloses articles of jewelry comprised of rings, brooches,pendants and bracelets, among others, that display photographs beneathprecious, non-precious or artificial stones of supreme clarity andtransparency.

[0009] Neither the aforesaid references nor anything else known in theprior art discloses the improvements of the present invention directedto a bracelet or some other item of jewelry with components that areconnected to enable the enhancement of its aesthetic features and theindividual or multiple photographs displayed therein to be secured andeasily removed and replaced, but without the major deficiencies of anyof its precursors in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides anarticle of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a plurality of framedcompartments for releasably receiving a photograph or some similarmedium with indicia thereon. The framed compartments are formed of anintegral rear plate for protecting the back of the photograph and foursidewalls integrally formed therewith. Openings are formed in two of theopposing sidewalls to receive a thin resilient cord or the like employedto connect the framed compartments in a series. A separate opening isformed within the integral rear plate to receive an implement tofacilitate the removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided tokeep each framed compartment equally separated from the next and ensurethe bracelet's overall flexibility.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved article of jewelry.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedarticle of jewelry that enables the enhancement of the aestheticfeatures of the article.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry that enables the photographs displayed inits framed components to be secured and easily removed and replaced.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry with an enhanced flexibility.

[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry that is easy and cost effective tomanufacture.

[0016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry with a single framed component.

[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry with a framed component in combination withassorted other aesthetically pleasing objects.

[0018] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved article of jewelry with a transparent film for protecting thefront surface of the photograph and assist in securing the photographwithin the framed component.

[0019] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following specifications when considered in light of theattached drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved article of jewelryaccording to the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single framedcompartment demonstrating the means for removing a photograph accordingto the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a single framedcompartment containing a photograph according to the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view of a single framedcompartment displaying an implement pushing through the opening in therear plate to remove the photograph according to the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view of a single framedcompartment with the photograph shown removed according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is aperspective view of the present invention depicting an article ofjewelry 10. Article of jewelry 10 consists of bracelet 12, which iscomprised of a plurality of framed compartments 14 for releasablyreceiving a photograph 16 or some similar medium with indicia 18thereon. Compartment 14 includes a rear plate 20 with an opening 22therein and upwardly extending sidewalls 24, 25, 27 and 29 along eachside 26 of framed compartment 14 integrally formed therewith. Rear plate20 may also include assorted other openings (not shown) of variousshapes and sizes to reduce costs of materials and contribute to thearticle's aesthetic appeal.

[0026] Openings 28 and 30 are formed within opposing sidewalls 24 and 25for receiving a cord or wire 32 for connecting multiple compartments 14in a series. Spacer elements 34, which are secured as a component ofbracelet 12 by threading wire 32 through individual openings 36, areprovided to separate each of the compartments 14 from the next andenhance the overall flexibility of bracelet 12. Brackets 38 are providedto retain the corners 40 of photograph 16 securely within eachcompartment 14. Also used to retain photograph 16 within eachcompartment 14 are pieces of transparent film (not shown) of the sameshape and size as photograph 16.

[0027] In a typical application of the present invention, photograph 16is placed inside compartment 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A in crosssection. To remove the photograph, a narrow implement 42 is employed topierce opening 22 and engage photograph 16 pushing it sufficientlyforward to separate it from compartment 14, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3B and3C.

[0028] Compartment 14 may be fabricated of any suitable material such asa metal alloy or a resilient synthetic composition. Embellishments, suchas a sculpted, embossed or engraved treatments, may be applied to anydesired surface of the framed compartment to enhance its aestheticappeal.

[0029] Spacer elements 34 are comprised of any suitably attractiveobject, though preferably beads of various sizes, shapes and colors.

[0030] Wire 32, which is preferably elastic or stretchable, can becomprised of either a natural or synthetic fiber sufficiently thin andresilient enough to easily thread the openings 28 and 30 in thesidewalls 24 and 25 and openings 36 in spacer elements 34 and secure allthe bracelet 12 components.

[0031] Photograph 16 or any other item with indicia thereon is typicallycomprised of a paper material, though any size appropriate plastic,metal or natural element would also be suitable.

[0032] Implement 42 may be a small, slender metal or resilient syntheticpoker or pin or even the point of a pencil or pen appropriately sized tofit through opening 22, engage photograph 16 and push it forwarddeforming it to enable the photograph 16 (and the thin transparent film,if used) to slip from compartment 14 and separate from it.

[0033] Alternate embodiments (not shown) of the present inventioninclude a single compartment 14 fashioned into a ring to be worn on afinger or in combination with a chain, and a single compartment 14 incombination with one or more fanciful or ornamental objects of varioussizes, shapes, colors and material compositions.

[0034] While the invention will be described in connection with acertain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is notintended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Rather,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalentsas may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. An article of jewelry comprising: a bracelet having a plurality offramed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or a similarmedium with indicia thereon, said framed compartments being formed of aplate protecting the back of the photograph and upwardly extendingsidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and formed integrallytherewith; a first opening and a second opening formed within opposingsidewalls of each of said compartments; means to connect saidcompartments to form the bracelet; a spacer member to separate each ofsaid compartments from the other and enhance said bracelet'sflexibility; and, means formed within the integral plate to receive animplement to facilitate the release of the photograph.
 2. The inventionof claim 1 wherein each of said framed compartments includes a meansformed within each corner of said compartment to help secure thephotograph.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said opposingside walls of each of said framed compartments comprises at least twoopenings for receiving said means to connect a series of said framedcompartments to form a generally circular shaped article of jewelry. 4.The invention of claim 3 wherein said means to connect said framedcompartments comprises a strand of thin cord or the like.
 5. Theinvention of claim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is comprised of asynthetic material.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the materialcomprising said strand of thin cord is elastic.
 7. The invention ofclaim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is comprised of a naturalmaterial.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacer member iscomprised of an ornamental bead.
 9. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid means formed within the integral plate to receive an implement tofacilitate the release of the photograph comprises a small opening. 10.The invention of claim 9 wherein said implement is sized and shaped toallow it to be easily inserted into the opening and push said photographsufficiently enabling it to completely separate from said framedcompartment.
 11. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said framedcompartments contains ornamental indicia or sculpture around itsperimeter portion and along each of said sidewalls.
 12. The invention ofclaim 8 wherein said ornamental bead varies in size, shape and color.13. The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said ornamental beadscontains an opening therethrough to receive said strand of thin cord.14. The invention of claim 1 comprising a film material for covering andsecuring said photograph within said compartment.
 15. An article ofjewelry comprising: a framed compartment for releasably receiving aphotograph or a similar medium with indicia thereon, said framedcompartment being formed of a plate protecting the back of thephotograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along the perimeter of saidplate and formed integrally therewith; a first opening and a secondopening formed within opposing sidewalls of each of said compartments;means to connect said framed compartment to other objects to form abracelet; and, means formed within the plate to receive an implement tofacilitate the release of the photograph.
 16. An article of jewelrycomprising: a framed compartment for releasably receiving a photographor a similar medium with indicia thereon, said framed compartment beingformed of a plate protecting the back of the photograph and upwardlyextending sidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and formedintegrally therewith; means to connect said compartment to other objectsto form a ring, pin, necklace or pendant; and, means formed within theplate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of thephotograph.
 17. The invention of claim 1 wherein said plate is formedintegrally with said framed compartment.
 18. The invention of claim 1wherein said framed compartment is comprised of metal.
 19. The inventionof claim 1 wherein said framed compartment is comprised of a syntheticmaterial.